Trump no longer pushing back when White House insiders say Hegseth is not up for the job as he ‘tires’ of controversies: report
President Donald Trump is growing tired of the ongoing controversies plaguing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to a new report.
While the president publicly stood by Hegseth, showed less enthusiasm Behind closed doors Atlantic on Friday, citing several unnamed sources familiar with White House discussions.
“[Trump] An outside White House adviser and former senior administration official told us he was growing tired of the scandals surrounding Hegseth and didn’t back down when others suggested Hegseth was unfit for the job. Atlantic reported.
An unnamed senior management official told the press that it had been a “tough week for Pete”.
White House and Pentagon spokespeople did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Independent.
The president’s apparent dissatisfaction came as the Pentagon faced scrutiny for authorizing a second attack on an alleged drug ship in the Caribbean on September 2. The follow-up strike, referred to by some as a double strike, was launched after two survivors were seen clinging to the wrecked ship.
President Donald Trump is no longer backing down after insiders complained that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was unfit for office, according to a new report. (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
Admiral Frank “Mitch” Bradley on Thursday Navy SEAL officer The commander of U.S. Special Operations Command showed lawmakers footage of the deadly attacks and answered questions.
Democratic Rep. Jim Himes, the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, told reporters the footage was “one of the most disturbing things I’ve seen in my time in public service.” By contrast, Tom Cotton, the GOP chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, called the strikes “justified” and “perfectly legal.”
On Tuesday, Hegseth said the attack occurred in the “fog of war” and that Bradley acted “within his authority and the law.”
Beyond the double-tapping controversy, Hegseth has faced wider criticism for his campaign targeting suspected traffickers, which resulted in the deaths of at least 86 people. Some MPs And human rights organizations They described the attacks as illegal, claiming they were used to create pressure. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. But Republicans largely supported the strikes, arguing that they helped stem the flow of attacks. illegal drugs To the United States.
This week, the Defense Department’s inspector general also released the findings of its investigation into Hegseth’s use of the Signal chat to broadcast details about an attack on Houthi rebels in Yemen. The report concluded that: Old FOX News‘ The server’s actions could have endangered US personnel. Hegseth at a discussion at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on Saturday in question He has “no regrets” about his use of Signal.
President Trump publicly backed the Pentagon chief, telling reporters on Tuesday: “Pete he does a great job.” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also defended the military’s stance. second strike In September. But behind closed doors things may be different. altantic Report the allegations.
On Thursday, Hegseth ordered a new attack that would kill four alleged drug traffickers. (X/@Southcom)
“Trump was unhappy that some Republicans on Capitol Hill were using Hegseth’s record as a reason to oppose the White House, another sign of the cracks in the GOP’s until recently unwavering loyalty to Trump,” the outlet said.
Senator this week Thom Tillis A North Carolina official told CNN that Hegseth was incorrect in claiming that the inspector general’s report on Signal chat use exonerated him.
“No one can justify this as an exoneration,” Tillis said. “We know that mission information is outside the confidential environment where it is trusted to exist.”
On Friday, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul called on Hegseth to testify under oath about the boat attacks.
“I think Congress, if it had any courage, would not allow this administration to immediately execute people suspected of crimes,” he said. Independent.
Still, some Republicans sided with Hegseth and argued that the Pentagon was working well under his leadership. And a senior administration official said: Atlantic that the president cannot afford to fire Hegseth and endure another Senate confirmation battle.
“People around the president have always felt that Hegseth wasn’t really qualified for the job,” this official said. “But he’s redeemed himself in the president’s eyes because he’s really committed to Trump. This is a very important step. That’s exactly what it’s going to be like to take Pete with all his baggage.”
At the same time, Trump has given no sign that boat attacks will slow down. Instead, he suggested, the military campaign could escalate.
“We’ll start doing this on land very soon,” the president said Wednesday.
